happy? – Nov 16 (McPherson hangs)

Subject: happy? – Nov 16 (McPherson hangs)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 07:32 AM


Inverness, Scotland:
James McPherson rants, fiddles and hangs on
11/16/1700

(tried before the sheriff of Banffshire Nov 7.)

McPherson & friends were convicted of being "Egyptian rogues and vagabonds, of keeping the markets in their ordinary manner of thieving and purse-cutting, also being guilty of masterful bangstrie and oppression." Part of the evidence against them was that they spoke a strange language and spent their nights in singing, dancing, and debauchery. He is supposed to have spent his last hour composing his rant, which Burns used as the basis of "Farewell, Ye Dungeons Dark and Strong.

          CHO: Sae rantin'ly, sae wantonly
               Sae dauntin'ly gaed he
               He played a tune and danced it roon'
               Below the gallows tree.
  
                    "McPherson's Rant; or the last words of James McPherson, murderer" 
                    is Burns' rewrite of both songs (based on Herd). See Dick's 
                    Songs of R.B., #311, for more explanation.

[Bangstrie is "masterful violence" – acting like a bangster – roughneck, bully, winner, hero, violent]

Copyright © 2005, Abby Sale - all rights reserved
What are Happy's all about? See Clicky

Subject: RE: happy? – Nov 16 (McPherson hangs)
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 11:12 AM

The song I heard says the reprieve was coming, but, "...They put the clock a quarter before and they hanged him from a tree..." Naughty children.             Tw

Subject: RE: happy? – Nov 16 (McPherson hangs)
From: emjay
Date: 16 Nov 05 - 08:31 PM

I remember seeing a picture of his broken fiddle. Picture was in a National Geographic some years ago. The caption said the fiddle is in the MacPherson museum. I have always loved to hear the Weavers singing that song, or at least the record of the Weavers singing it since I am feeling very literal right now.
MJ

Subject: RE: happy? – Nov 16 (McPherson hangs)
From: GUEST,mick
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 09:29 AM

Abby , what exactly is it that you have copyrighted ?

Subject: RE: happy? – Nov 16 (McPherson hangs)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 10:12 PM

mick: Each basic Happy that I've posted. That is, the style, comments, format - my own words. And, especially, as a whole concept. Very little of the actual data is original, of course. If you were to take a large block of the material and "publish" it digitally or physically anywhere without my permission, I would object. I've seen many Almanacs, Books of Days and Today in History of xxx - This is the only Today in folk music I know of.

I wanted to share it, for what it's worth, and invite Mudcatters play with, pass on, print out individual items, etc. as well as share their own thoughts, illucidations, corrections, personal and/or factual and/or favorite anniversary posts. But I'd consider any wholesale non-Mudcat use to be exploitation and very rude. (And of questionable benefit to anyone, anyway. I think Legman said, "The wages of sin may not be death but they ain't much.)

Why do you ask?

Subject: RE: happy? – Nov 16 (McPherson hangs)
From: mg
Date: 17 Nov 05 - 11:36 PM

you can see MacPherson's fiddle on the internet..just do a google search. mg

Subject: RE: happy? – Nov 16 (McPherson hangs)
From: GUEST,Boab
Date: 18 Nov 05 - 03:49 AM

McPherson's fiddle is displayed in the museum at Newtonmore
[turn left off the Perth to Inverness road.]